While the idea of a Joker sequel is still reportedly on the table, Deadline reports that Todd Phillips and Scott Silver have not started hashing out a deal for such a project, let alone begun negotiations. The outlet also claims that Phillips did not meet with Warner Bros film chief Toby Emmerich about making other DC character origin stories, and that Phillips hasn’t even considered tackling such projects.

Still, while the news from earlier today made it seem like the proverbial Joker 2 train was running full steam ahead, now another source alleges that it hasn’t even left the station. We’ll have to wait for more updates to learn just how far along talks between Todd Phillips and Warner Bros are concerning a Joker sequel, but if we’re to believe Deadline, progress is still a long ways off. Although maybe a Joker anthology should be considered instead?

As for these other DC character origin stories, those are even less of a certainty, but again, we’ll have to wait and see if one, let alone several of these kind of movies move forward. Fortunately for Warner Bros, there’s no shortage of DC villains who would be prime material for such treatment, from Lex Luthor to Darkseid.

DC could easily carve out a niche for itself in the comic book adaptation realm with such unconventional and dark tales alongside the more ‘traditional’ fare that’s scheduled, like Birds of Prey and Black Adam. It’s one area that DC’s biggest competition, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, can’t operate in since it operates solely in PG-13 territory… well, unless Deadpool 3 gets off the ground, in which case we’ll revaluate.

As things stand now, Joker has crossed the $1 billion mark, making it only the fourth DC movie to do so, trailing behind Aquaman, The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight. There’s been a lot of talk about what Joker’s prospects in the coming awards season will look like, particularly for Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as Arthur Fleck, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on that front, as well as clarification regarding the sequel and other origin stories.